Budget hearing shines light on public service millage spending

Tuesday, May 8 — Nearly half of Lansing’s roads are in poor to failed condition, the Lansing City Council was told Monday night, but the Bernero administration hopes the $1.9 million expected in new tax revenue will keep the number from growing exponentially.

Monday, May 14 — In a matter of three hours between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. today, the City Council learned from the Bernero administration that the General Fund may have to start funding a $1.6 million deficit for the city’s Tax Increment Financing Authority starting in 2014; a budget deficit in the city’s General Fund will appear at the end of this fiscal year; and the city may have to inject another $3 million annually into its two retirement systems due to rising health care costs.

‘Walk-a-Mile In My Shoes’ draws nearly 2,000 from around the state

Thursday, May 12 — The Capitol lawn was packed Wednesday with nearly 2,000 people from across the state donning shirts that read, “Mental Health Matters,” “On the road again” and “Hope with every STEP.”

Wednesday, May 18 — The state Department of Natural Resources says that when in Michigan, you’re never more than six miles from a lake or river. In fact, Michigan is home to more than 11,000 inland lakes and about 36,000 miles of rivers and has the second largest amount of coastline in any state, behind Alaska.

Activists march to Capitol calling for peace commission

Wednesday, Aug. 10 — An enormous white cloth dove, carried by peace activists, flapped and fluttered in the gentle breeze Tuesday morning at the Capitol, where a 10-day peace walk campaign finally reached the finish line calling for a state Commission for Peace and Justice.